Two years ago as you celebrated the 125 ^th of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Fr. Tom Peyton reminded everyone that the celebration offered our small church community an opportunity to build on what has been given to us.  He saw the Anniversary as “our ‘MOMENT’ to look to the Future, the next 125 years, and bequest to the generations of the future a vision of hope.”   I certainly hope there will be a vibrate faith community on Tybee in the year 2141, but more modestly I want to focus on maintaining a vibrant faith community for the next few years.  
 
And our hope is not rooted in our buildings, or our music, or the glory days when we had a parish school, or even having been blessed by good pastors. Our hope must always be rooted in God and his will for us.  It is about following Jesus, who shows us the depth of God’s love for us.  It is about this faith community and moving ever deeper into the Mystery of God’s love for us.  The hope for our future involves realizing that there is still much work to be done in bringing the love of God to our world.
 
To grasp hold of this future it is important that all of us come to a deeper understand of who God calls us to be.  We are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ who joyfully share the love of God that we have experienced in and through our encounter, our relationship with Jesus.  I pray that many of you will trust my pastoral leadership and attend the Parish Day of Renewal next Saturday.  I also pray that you will not forget that God asks all of us to take an active role in building up his Kingdom here and now. 
 
In the words of a great Catholic evangelist, Matthew Kelly, I urge you “to take the long view.  In a land where there are no musicians; in a land where there are no storytellers, teachers, or poets; in a land where there are no men and women of vision or leadership; in a land where there are no legends, saints, or champions; in a land where there are no dreamers --- the people of that land will certainly perish.
 
But you and I, we are the music makers; we are the storytellers, teachers, poets; we are the men and women of vision and leadership; we are the legends, the saints, and the champions; and we are the dreamers of the dreams.”  Our parish has such a great history but together we need to build on what has been given to us.  Certainly, God is not done with us yet.  I believe this faith community has an awesome mission ahead of us.  So, join with your fellow parishioners next Saturday. October 20th for our Parish Renewal Event.  After a brief introduction, we will start with lunch.  I want to make sure that everyone has a good lunch provided by Sundae Café, so please sign up today or tomorrow at the latest.  “Tybee Time” was okay for our Feast day when we had double the number of people who had signed up.  The good Lord and the Kelly’s abundant supply of pork lion provided.  But for next Saturday, for the sake of good stewardship, the parish can only provide lunch for those who have signed up.  Don’t make me play the bad guy.  I don’t do mean very well.
  Cardinal DiNardo kindly sent the following note in response to the notes that we sent him:

September 24, 2018
 
Dear Father Ragan,
 
Thank you for the thoughtful cards from the parishioners of St. Michael Church received September 13, 2018. I am grateful for their thoughts and prayers as I, and my brother bishops, confront the scandal of sin that has plagued our Church. Confident in the grace of God, who shall lift every valley and make plain what is rugged,
 
I remain, Fraternally in Our Lord,
 
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo
Archbishop of Galveston-Houston
President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops